Several years ago, Al Gore’s pal Bill Clinton went vegan. (You know, the guy who used to jog to the hamburger joint on the job.) It was pretty shocking news, and even though Clinton’s not technically 100 percent vegan, he looks healthier now than he did ten years ago. And now, Al’s made the switch, too? What gives?

In case you haven’t noticed, the vegan diet is no longer just for misanthropic teens and dreadlocked hippies. It’s a diet and lifestyle choice that’s reached mainstream audiences. Forbes magazine called high-end vegan cuisine its top food trend for 2013. So, Al may be a little late to the game, but the climate change poster boy has much to gain in making the transition. In fact, here are a few things we think influenced Al Gore’s decision to go vegan:

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About Author

Jill Ettinger is the senior editor and featured columnist on EcoSalon and sister website Organic Authority. She is also the site co-director at Eat Drink Better. Jill is the director of social media for EcoSalon and Organic Authority.
Jill’s writing has been featured in The Village Voice, MTV, Reality Sandwich and Global Rhythm as well as the anthologies “Towards 2012: Perspectives on the Next Age” (2009, Tarcher/Penguin) and “What Do You Believe?” (2009, Outside the Box).
A focus on food policy, veganism, wellness, music and world cultural expressions, Jill blends the mystical and modern as she explores what our shifting food, fashion, culture and creative landscapes will look, sound and taste like in the future.
Jill spent more than a decade as a sales and marketing manager in the natural foods industry and regularly consults with and supports emerging brands and organizations in creative communication, social media and event production.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and future foodie, their daughter Imogene. Twitter @jillettinger | www.jillettinger.com.